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Serving Urban Youth

The Jean Yawkey Center for Community Leadership at Emmanuel College serves urban youth and community organizations in Boston through programs like Kids to College, Mission Grammar to Emmanuel College, facility use, Service Days and more.

Kids to College Emmanuel students invite and meet with middle school and high school students to talk about higher education: The long-term benefits, the financial aid opportunities and the areas of study. The program allows middle school and high school students to participate in programming designed to help prepare them for their pursuit of higher education. Youth are invited to college events, such as lectures, theatre performances, cultural activities and sporting events. Mission Grammar to Emmanuel College - MGtoEC MGtoEC is a monthly dinner /discussion group hosted by the JYCCL and the Office of Multicultural Programs at Emmanuel College for 8th grade scholars of OLPH Mission Grammar School. The program focuses on culture, history, literacy and college readiness. MGtoEC is designed to coincide with theme month programs celebrated at Emmanuel and/or current topics. Emmanuel students prepare and facilitate a lesson for the 8th grade scholars.

The goals of the program are:

Empower Mission Grammar scholars, through mentorship, to see higher education as a viable option.

For Mission Grammar scholars to gain the ability to engage in discussions that allow for critical thinking and high level communication skills.

Days of Service The JYCCL sponsors large-scale days of service such as New Student Day of Service in September and the Annual Spring Day of Service in April. Groups of students volunteer a various agencies throughout the City of Boston assisting with various beautification projects such as painting, cleaning and gardening. Learn more » Annual Volunteer Fair The Annual Volunteer Fair co-sponsored by the JYCCL and Campus Ministry takes place ever September and offers students the opportunity to make connections with various organizations located throughout the Greater Boston area. Some organizations that have participated include: Big Sister Big Brother Association of Greater Boston, Boston Medical Reserve Corps, Boston Rescue Mission, City Year Boston, Community Servings, Cradles to Crayons, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Notre Dame Mission Volunteers, OLPH Mission Grammar School, St. Mary of the Angels Parish, The Home for Little Wanderers and Zoo New England, plus many more. Learn more » Boston Immersion Colleges of The Fenway Boston Immersion Alternative Spring Break is a week-long service experience during March spring break. Colleges of The Fenway students serve together for the week while living in the Jean Yawkey Center on Emmanuel's campus. In March 2013, the group spent the week focusing on issues of food justice. Learn more » As space is available, the Jean Yawkey Center gymnasium hosts area schools and organizations for athletic and social events. In the past, these have included: